“This is Lewis,” the director said. “He lost his parents in an accident and came here. The shock of that accident caused him to close his heart off to others. He doesn’t have any friends and is always alone.”
The child kept his gaze to the ground, despite being introduced by the director. No doubt he held deep trauma in his heart. Perfect. It was easy to take advantage of those with dark pasts—they had numerous vulnerabilities to exploit. When left to their own devices, these types would end up suckered into cults to seek salvation. If I educated him properly at this young age, he would surely swear loyalty to me and happily jump into fires or deep waters for my sake.
“Very well,” I said. “I’d like to take him in too.”
“Are you sure?” the director asked. “He hasn’t done anything wrong or evil.”
She looked shocked.
What the hell is she on about? I wondered. I wasn’t looking for evildoers; I wanted excellent servants who would do my bidding.
Lewis also looked at me with confusion; he hadn’t expected to be chosen as my squire.
“Don’t worry,” I said softly. “You have nothing to fear. You’re essential to me.”
I gently placed a hand on Lewis’s shoulder, and he replied with a small nod.
Good. He’ll come along.
“It seems there won’t be a problem,” I said. “Let us head to the next one.”
I then noticed that, for some reason, the director gazed at Lewis with pity.
✦ ✦ ✦
“The next child is Isabel,” the director said. “Her mother was a harlot who passed away due to an illness. She’s very smart and cute but is self-righteous and has a tendency to trick others. Even adults will fall victim to her at times…”
I was introduced to a pretty girl with blue hair. She was only ten but had a bewitching air to her. She acted terrified, but her eyes seemed to be gauging me as she took in her situation.
She’s a stereotypical trickster girl. I thought. She was the type to ensnare or deceive others and watch the show from a safe distance away. She was perhaps intelligent, but she used her brains for evil. Though Isabel might be a good-for-nothing, she seemed adept at sinister ploys and would likely be a useful pawn.
“This child shall also be my squire candidate,” I said.
When she heard my words, Isabel looked shaken.
“Um, I don’t think I’ll be of any use,” she said.
She did her utmost to look as useless and weak as possible, speaking feebly and seeming to be on the verge of tears. However, it was all an act. With my eighteen years of experience from my past life, I was technically a woman of twenty-eight. I knew all the tricks, and Isabel was certainly the type who could cry on cue in order to deceive others.
Maybe she sensed that she was in danger and was trying her best to avoid becoming my squire candidate, but that sort of astuteness only earned points in my book. She was exactly the person that I had been looking for.
“Oh, Isabel, I see that you’d like to become a harlot, just like your mother,” I said. “What a splendid dream to have.”
Isabel’s meek appearance twisted into one of pure wrath. It was as though she hated the world in its entirety. I shuddered with delight. I’ve been wanting to see a face like that.
“What a fine expression you’ve got,” I said. “You’re most suitable to become my squire.” As she gave me a demonic glare, I drew close to whisper in her ear. “I’m sure a smart child like you can tell, but this is already set in stone. Surely you’ll know what’ll happen if you dare go against the household of a duke?”
A clever girl like Isabel must have known what it meant to hold power. She looked vexed at my threat.
“Miss Director, will you please introduce the next child to me?” I asked.
The nun looked anxious, unable to process what was happening.
✦ ✦ ✦
“That girl over there is Emma,” the director said.
She pointed at a girl who was stuck to the stone wall of the orphanage, scaling it easily like a monkey.
“She’s very…active,” the director said. “That may be a bit of an understatement, since she’s always putting herself in dangerous situations. She’s very athletic, and we just can’t get her to sit still…”
My decision for her was immediate.
“She shall be my squire candidate,” I said.
Her athletic abilities were marvelous, which meant she could handle dangerous missions. She became mine as she climbed that wall. The director had a look of resignation; she didn’t even speak with Emma and quickly moved on to the next child.
✦ ✦ ✦
“This is Alice,” the director said. “She loves to read books and is tough to deal with.”
I feel like the director’s explanations are becoming briefer and rougher, I thought. Maybe she’s just introducing children she wants get rid of.
Alice had reddish hair and was rather quiet as she stared at me.
“Tough? Why is that?” I asked.
“There aren’t many books in orphanages,” the director confessed. “And so she tries to read anything with words on it, including letters addressed to others, or other people’s diaries.”
I see. That’s a bit troublesome. But being studious isn’t an issue at all.
“Alice, are you interested in studying magic?” I asked.
“I am,” Alice replied.
She remained expressionless. I was a touch worried about whether she was actually eager at all, but I didn’t want to just gather stupid, athletic people. Studious kids like her were essential, and if she became an excellent mage, she would only be a benefit to me.
“All right, I’ll take her as well,” I said.
It was becoming a pain for me to act overly polite, so I spoke casually, as though I was buying a new outfit.
Thus, one by one, I chose my squire candidates who the director had deemed problematic. Ultimately, I settled on six: Isabel, Alice, Emma, Richard, Oscar, and Lewis. Their own wishes didn’t matter here, and I found it a pity that several of them didn’t seem excited to serve at the household of a duke.
I packed them into a carriage I’d chartered just for them and took them back to the manor. The director seemed like she wanted to say a word or two but ultimately decided to stay silent. Relief washed over her face as all the most troublesome children in her care were taken away.